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Vollmer, Isakovic to Swim at World Championships in Rome

BERKELEY - Former California star Dana Vollmer and current Golden Bear Sara Isakovic, two key members' of Cal's NCAA championship run last March, will compete in the 2009 FINA Swimming World Championships starting on Saturday, July 25, and ending on Aug. 2 in Rome. Vollmer, a Granbury, Texas, product, is slated to race in four events: the 50- and 100-meter butterflies and the 100- and 200-meter freestyles. She may also swim in relays to be determined for the United States. Isakovic, a sophomore from Bled, Slovenia, will swim the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter freestyle in Rome.

Vollmer looks to add to a large collection of trophies and awards that includes a gold medal as part of the United States' 800-meter free relay in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. A recent nominee for a 2009 ESPY Award for Best Female Collegiate Athlete, Vollmer claimed the 2009 Honda Sports Award for Swimming and NCAA Swimmer of the Year honors after completing a stellar senior season last March. She won five titles (100- and 200-yard freestyles, 400- and 800-yard free relays, and the team championship) at the 2009 NCAA Championships.

Also at the national meet, Isakovic led off Cal's winning 800-yard freestyle relay that set a new school, NCAA, NCAA Championships, American and U.S. Open record time of with a time of 6:52.69. Vollmer anchored the relay. Isakovic set a school record of 4:36.79 in the 500-yard freestyle heats to break Natalie Coughlin's 2003 mark and later placed fourth in the final. She swam a 1:43.30 to finish sixth in the 200-yard free and earned honorable mention All-America honors by taking ninth place in the 200-yard fly. Prior to starting her Cal career, Isakovic won a silver medal in the 200-meter freestyle in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.